Skywatcher Pronto Mount - first impressions

[Helen]

FLO has kindly provided me with the loan of the new Pronto mount  https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-az-pronto/sky-watcher-az-pronto-alt-azimuth-mount-tripod.html for my trip to the US for the eclipse 

It arrived today, well packaged in a triple boxes.

 Here are some pictures and my first impressions (indoor testing only as the box also contained significant rainclouds  ).

The elements are:

The head (which has large knobs for tightening the axes),

slow motion controls (with metal screws rather than the plastic sometimes used and a screwdriver to tighten them), an extension post (the top comes off to access the screw for the head and then is held solidly by chunky screws), the tripod (tommy bar on the screw underneath) and the tray (slots on and then twists to lock and brace).

 

Assembly is straightforward.  

So.... what do I think so far?

The head is quite lightweight, but robust. It was a rather stiff to start with, but a few rotations loosened it.  I'm not sure it is yet smooth enough to be used without the slow motion controls, but with those it moves very nicely.  I was worried about balance given the scope sits above the axis of rotation, but the Alt axis can be tightened sufficiently to effectively hold the scope (well at least my Borg and a Delos) with no slipping (again, without slow motion controls this could be a issue, but is fine with them).  In use with the slow motion controls it seems to move smoothly.

The extension is solid and well build, the fixing mechanisms work well.  It might be heavy for airline travel though...

The weakest part of the package is the tripod.  It is lightweight, and maybe some stability has been sacrificed for the weight/cost?  eg the head has cut-outs rather than being a solid plate.  

 

There is flex/twist at the head.  When the legs are extended there is more flex.  I haven't been able to test observing yet though, so I don't how much this will impact on practical use.   (I'd also like to test with different tubes for a balanced review.)

Not sure when the weather will improve enough for real-life testing...  but my initial view is that the head certainly has a lot of potential as a lightweight, easy-to-use travel/grab and go mount for my Borg

Helen

[Alan White]

Thank you for the rapid posting up Helen.

Interesting mount, the tripod is much as I thought it would be.

Will make a very light travel mount though, allowing for its foibles it looks to be a very good home for a small scope.

[Rick_It]

Thanks Helen, I'm also interested at that mount. Do you think the movements in ALT and AZ use roller bearings? Looking forward for the smoothness without slow motion controls

[John]

Interesting initial thoughts Helen - thanks for posting them and the photos

If the same tripod is used on the AZ5 then I don't think it bodes well for it's ability to handle my F/9 Tak OTA

[andre2]

Hi, i have the coronado pst solartelescope i have order  the coronado AZS  lightweight mount. But when i discover this mount, i thought "Ups". Maby i had to buy this one instead.If  the coronado mount not impress me , maby its worth to upgrade to the AZ pronto ?  Thanks!!  ( my feelings say that the pronto is at last more comfortable to use, becource there is more space arround to do tracking and the cables are maby also a bit longer- it also have that extra tube to make the tripod higher witch the AZS dond have... I Will see....)